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Whether or not the New York Yankees are able to do the improbable and fight their way into a wild-card spot in the final two weeks of the season, Mariano Rivera will soon walk off a major-league mound for the final time in his storied 19-year career.

The 43-year-old Panamanian leaves the game as the greatest closer of all time and among the best pitchers — period — in baseball history.

“He’s a legend,” said Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes. “The best pitcher to ever step on that mound in the ninth inning.”

“There are few guys who I’ve played against over my career that you actually become a fan of, he’s definitely one of them,” said Mark DeRosa, the Jays infielder, who is 1-for-5 against Rivera over his career. “It’ll be one of the stories you tell your grandkids, that you got to face one of the greatest pitchers to ever wear the uniform.”

Rivera is making his final visit to Toronto this week and will be honoured with a pre-game ceremony on Thursday.

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Where to begin?

Rivera’s list of accomplishments is as long as his list of admirers. He’s baseball’s all-time saves leader with 651, 50 more than second-place Trevor Hoffman and 314 more than the next active pitcher, Joe Nathan. His 2.22 career ERA is the lowest among any pitcher since 1927. Only twice in the last 17 years did he post fewer than 30 saves. He’s a 13-time all-star and five-time World Series champion, destined for the Hall of Fame.

Playoff performer

Rivera’s teammate, Derek Jeter, has already been christened “Captain Clutch,” but the pair should probably share the nickname. Rivera, who was named the 1999 World Series MVP, owns a 0.70 ERA in 141 postseason innings — the lowest postseason ERA of all-time. He has 42 playoff saves, also the most ever (two times more than the next closest). His 0.759 postseason WHIP is third all-time behind Roy Halladay and Monte Pearson. Rivera has pitched in more World Series games, 24, than any other hurler in baseball history. Only twice in his career did he not pitch in October and he has a 0.99 World Series ERA, eighth on the all-time list.

Lowlights

There haven’t been many lowlights to speak of in Rivera’s career, but two come to mind. First, in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks when, after a scoreless eighth, Rivera allowed the D-backs to score the tying and winning runs in a disastrous ninth inning. Not only did he allow three hits, but he also made a throwing error, blowing the save as Arizona walked off to their first World Series.

The second came much to the delight of Boston Red Sox fans, who at that time were still waiting for their first championship in nearly 90 years. In Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS, Rivera entered the game in the ninth with a one-run lead and promptly issued a leadoff walk and gave up a hit, as the Red Sox tied the game and eventually won it in the 12th. Boston eventually won the series en route to winning their first World Series title since 1918. The Red Sox recalled the game as they roasted Rivera in a pregame ceremony last week.

The Cutter

Arguably the most feared pitch in baseball, Rivera’s cutter has devastated hitters for his entire career — he has the broken bats to prove it.

“You know he’s only going to throw one pitch,” says Reyes. “But you still can’t put a good swing on it. It’s unbelievable what he’s been able to do.”

Rivera’s cutter, or cut-fastball, has the look of an ordinary fastball until it reaches the plate when it breaks late, jamming the hands of lefties and cutting away from righties. Going back to 2007, batters are hitting just .194 against the pitch.

“It’s kind of a defenceless feeling at times,” says DeRosa. “You feel like you should be able to get to it, you feel like you see the ball pretty well, but for whatever reason it’s by you, you’re fouling it off or you’re swinging through and you really don’t have the answer as to why.”

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